The Tennessee Volunteers under Josh Heupel were entering their fourth season, and something needed to change for the team. After a devastating 2023 season where the Vols lost 4 crucial games and missed the playoffs, they were looking for answers in place of Milton III. A QB who can provide a dual-round threat in crucial moments and can also be the leader of the locker room and on the field. They got their answer from a player native to Long Beach, California.

Yes, we are talking about Nico Iamaleava. A QB who showed promise the entire season and produced more than 2,600 yards with 358 rushing yards, scoring 3 touchdowns. He wasn’t just the answer to Joe Milton’s spot but was destined to shape his own legacy. For one, the Vols’ new quarterback was just getting started, and he produced a season in his freshman year that Milton couldn’t even match in his final year with Tennessee. For that, there should be some rewards incoming, right?

It seems like Iamaleava has finally gotten his reward. As per recent reports by ON3’s Pete Nakos, Iamaleava is in “active contract negotiations” with the team. This will see his NIL pay raised quite significantly as opposed to the previous deal the QB signed for $2 million per year. The post shared by ON3 has garnered more than a million views till now, and the Vols fans don’t seem happy about the new contract Iamaleava is getting. But what exactly are the details of the new deal, and what will be the new implications?

However, it remains unclear if the new deal will deter any interest from rival teams for Nico Iamaleava. Still, there may be some surety around Nico staying put with Tennessee, as nothing else would make sense for Tennessee here. Moreover, Iamaleava also expressed that he was happy with the team and had a good relationship with the head coach, Josh Heupel. The new contract will have all the details and be finalized after Saturday’s Orange-White spring game.

The NIL payment, as reported by ON3, is expected to be around $2.5 million, which will be an eventual increase. But it will still be less than other QBs like Carson Beck, who earns around $3 million annually, and Darian Mensah of Duke, who also has a contract worth more than $3 million per year.

Tennessee Vols fanbase furious with Nico Iamaleava’s new NIL deal

While Iamaleava’s season was positive in many aspects, there were criticisms around his peak ability and several other aspects. Analysts and the internet had already termed the QB as having hit his ceiling and declared that “he will not improve.”  Now that the Vols QB has signed a new NIL deal, similar sentiments are coming out. One of the users wrote, “Let him walk“, while another wrote, “Would we really miss him?”

Well, Tennessee fans, you might miss the QB if he walks, and here’s why. For one, you have Merklinger as your second-choice QB. A player who just doesn’t have that kind of experience Iamaleava has but also doesn’t have the same talent. Moreover, the QB market has limited options.

The next user pointed out another harsh verdict for the QB. “I mean… Would we really miss him that bad?? Did he do anything last year that warrants more money?” While another said, “It’s called greed already made millions.”

Well, it may come quite bluntly, but $2.5 million for a QB who still has a lot to offer isn’t that much. When you look at other quarterbacks like Nussmeier and Carson Beck, they have far higher NIL deals than Nico. Hell, even Bryce Underwood earned a whopping $12 million deal without even playing a single game. Moreover, in the current CFB market, money rules. And if Tennessee won’t pay the guy, someone else eventually will.

Lastly, a user described the harsh reality of the NIL and the transfer portal world: “Modern college sports are like modern marriages, tf is the point of committing if you’re gonna search for something else after 2 years?“. Well, that frustration is understandable, but things may eventually become more streamlined after the House v. NCAA settlement comes into effect. Where teams will have greater autonomy to negotiate buyout contracts with players, and hopefully that may deter interest from other teams.